Pro Sports Blogging » Matt Prestonhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com
24/7 Real Sports TalkTue, 28 Jul 2015 02:53:39 +0000enhourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2Thornton Sentenced to 15 Gameshttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/12/15/thornton-sentenced/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/12/15/thornton-sentenced/#commentsMon, 16 Dec 2013 02:46:21 +0000Matt Prestonhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=102373It only took a week, but the dust is finally settling on Boston Bruins enforcer Shawn Thornton’s attack of Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik on Dec. 7 and the story’s ending is finally becoming clear. Orpik was put on injured reserve by the team with not date set yet for his return, but is already [...]]]>

It only took a week, but the dust is finally settling on Boston Bruins enforcer Shawn Thornton’s attack of Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik on Dec. 7 and the story’s ending is finally becoming clear.

Orpik was put on injured reserve by the team with not date set yet for his return, but is already back skating with the Penguins, while teammate James Neal, suspended five games for a knee to the head of Bruins forward Brad Marchand just moments before the Thornton attack, will return to action this coming Wednesday.

Marchand, was no worse for wear from the hit and may have even had a few screws knocked into place, back to his pesky, pestering ways on Saturday night, despite struggling through much of the season. Not such good news for Bruins forward Loui Eriksson, railroaded just 11 seconds into the infamous contest by Orpik, a hit that stirred the rage of both sides, as the Swede was also put on IR and rumors are beginning to swirl he could be done for the season with a concussion.

As for Thornton, the NHL handed him a 15-game suspension for his actions.

The story is coming to a close, but will still carry a little steam as the argument rages as to whether or not the punishment fits the crime?

Folks from Pittsburgh will probably argue Thornton is no more than a thug for which there is no place in hockey and should have gotten more. Some in Boston are arguing Orpik is of far worse stock and got what he deserved after delivering his viscous hit of Eriksson and the suspension is too long given Thornton’s previously sterling reputation.

The truth, as is oft the case, lies somewhere in the middle.

Leading up to Thornton’s hearing with the Department of Player Safety, the common opinion seemed to be 10 games, which seemed more than fitting for Thornton. What he did was egregious and worthy of a lengthy suspension, but given his polished reputation for being a tough guy who never crosses the line – this is the first suspension of his 11-year career – and the way the game itself had unfolded, 10 seemed justified.

At first glance, 15 sounded a bit excessive. Remembering, however, Todd Bertuzzi received 20-games for his assault on Steve Moore – an attack far more despicable, but somewhat similar in nature – made it a little more understandable, but not without some lingering questions.

Will Thornton appeal?

Hopefully not.

Thornton’s once proud reputation took a big hit as soon as Orpik was stretchered off the ice. Will he ever get it back? Many are saying no, but that is also unjustified, and taking his suspension and just serving it honorably would go a long way in terms of restoring Thornton’s reputation.

Is the league making an example of Thornton?

That was amongst the initial reactions when news broke of the suspension. With head injuries being such a major focus in sports and leagues doing everything they can to take a hard line stance and combat such injuries, this was the chance for the NHL to make a stand. Was it easier for the league to hand out a lengthy, statement making suspension because Thornton is a player that the gets the least ice time on average than anyone else on the roster, his absence not the greatest of hindrances to the Bruins success?

Might be a little too conspiracy theory, but swayed only by the Bertuzzi suspension.

What message does this send to the rest of the league?

The debate of the role of violence in hockey is one that will probably endure as long as the game is played and one that factors heavily into this story. Agree with the violence in the game or not, Shawn Thornton’s role on the Bruins is to protect his teammates. The checks and balances, self-policing of the game that is supposed to make Neal think twice before he knees Marchand in the head and hold him accountable for his actions. A point possibly proven by the fact Neal skated directly to the bench and got off the ice after delivering the hit.

Thornton sought out Orpik to seek retribution for his hit on Eriksson early in the game. With such a lofty penalty levied in this instance, will Thornton now have to think twice about every hit he throws, every scrap he gets into the rest of his career? Will he no longer be able to effectively do his job of protecting his teammates? Does such a lengthy suspension set a precedent that will scare others like Thornton out of protecting their teammates, making it open season for cheap shots throughout the NHL?

It should not. There is a line that will always be walked, some often going too far, and there are likely no rules to be put in place or acts of self-policing that will ever change that. And come mid-January when he returns to the ice, Thornton should be able to go back to the player he has always been. Tentative at first, perhaps, but one act of rage should derail his game. Orpik will eventually return to game action as well with hopefully minimal lasting effect, and Eriksson hopefully shortly thereafter.

Soon enough the story will all be over.

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/12/15/thornton-sentenced/feed/0Say It Ain’t So, ST22http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/12/08/say-it-ain%e2%80%99t-so-st22/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/12/08/say-it-ain%e2%80%99t-so-st22/#commentsSun, 08 Dec 2013 07:16:35 +0000Matt Prestonhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=102320Quite the week for the Boston Bruins. If only it had anything to do with the hype of their first of the season against the rival Montreal Canadiens or their dramatic last minute win against the Pittsburgh Penguins. If only it were not for all the wrong reasons. If only it were not because of [...]]]>

Quite the week for the Boston Bruins. If only it had anything to do with the hype of their first of the season against the rival Montreal Canadiens or their dramatic last minute win against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

If only it were not for all the wrong reasons.

If only it were not because of two hits, two stretchers, a vile knee and a hellacious sucker punch.

The fun started early in Montreal on Thursday night, 4:28 in, when Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk went to play a puck deep in the corner and was sent face first into the dasher. Pacioretty got the deserved two minutes for boarding, Boychuk got a ride in an ambulance and through the end result was a lower back injury that will keep the Bruins defenseman out five to seven days, the hit drugged up the emotions of a far more gruesome incident.

It took even less time for all Hell to break loose on Saturday night. Just 11 seconds into the contest, Bruins forward Loui Eriksson peeled off up the right wing boards looking for an outlet pass from center Patrice Bergeron when he was railroaded by Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik. Eriksson was slow to get up and did not return to the game.

The Bruins winger more than likely did not see the hit coming, which of course exacerbated the outrage, but no penalty was called on the shoulder-to-shoulder hit and that was probably the proper assessment by the officials. A good hit gone bad.

The hitting only intensified from there, in both directions, and about six minutes later Boston tough guy Shawn Thornton went out and did what Shawn Thornton does, attempting to engage Orpik. Though he is by now means a soft player, the 6’2”, 219 lbs. Orpik – whose number of career fights is seemingly akin to the number of times Thornton throws down in a month – did not answer the call. For the moment Thornton let it go, but still the fervor between both sides continued.

The rage boiled over just past the 11-minute mark of the first period when Bruins winger Brad Marchand was trying to regain his footing after being innocently tripped by Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby. Coming up from behind the play, Penguins winger James Neal made little attempt to avoid Marchand, who was still on the ice, and kneed the diminutive Bruin in the head.

If only that were the most egregious move of the night.

It still may have been, but the violence did not end there. Neal went straight to the bench after colliding with Marchand, but that did not stop a scrum from forming once the whistle blew so the Bruins medical staff could tend to their injured player. As a number of the remaining players on the ice tangled. Thornton sought out Orpik, who was engaged in the scrum, grabbed him from behind, slew footed him and then threw a pair of punches as the defenseless Penguins defenseman lay on the ice.

The surrounding Penguins immediately called for their own medical staff. Orpik was put onto a stretcher and taken to Mass General Hospital. An otherwise great game tainted.

In an instant, one of the “good guys” in hockey who “lives and dies by ‘the Code,’” a man who always talks about the honor of hockey went from the peaceful warrior to Public Enemy No. 1. One of the darker moments in recent Bruins history.

Can Shawn Thornton the man be defended? Most likely. Around town he has a solid reputation of being a class and honorable man. Despite his pugnacious style, the impending suspension that is coming will be the first of his career, it is not like Thornton has a history of dirty play and his postgame statement seemed emotional in sincere. Should all of that be taken away by one fit of rage?

Can Thornton’s actions on Saturday night be defended? Not a chance.

Thornton snapped and in a fit of rage went out to hurt Orpik. Did he intend to put Orpik in the hospital? One can only hope not, but in those minutes following the hit on Eriksson, Thornton’s actions were not fitting of the honorable man looking to do right by his injured teammate. They were that of a man out for revenge and for them he deserves to be punished.

As for Orpik, the insinuations were being made that maybe he would not have ended up in the hospital had he not made the initial hit on Eriksson. There may be truth to such a statement, despite the ridiculous nature of blaming the victim of an assault and difficulty criticizing a defenseman for doing their job. He is the one who should be felt for. If the world wants to cry for Shawn Thornton because he is a good guy who “plays the game the right way,” Orpik was doing much the same and is a pretty good guy, too.

Lost in the shuffle was the Neal hit on Marchand. No stretcher was involved and Marchand missed little to no time. His suspension will be a fraction of Thornton’s, if there is one at all pending his phone hearing with the league, but it is the kind of action, above all else, that is damaging the game. He laid out all the rhetoric fitting of a man on trial after the game, but for as much as Thornton was a man on a mission when he went looking for Orpik, Neal had no such mission planned to avoid making contact with Marchand.

Which is more damning: A fit of berserker rage or a premeditated attack?

Boychuk returned from Montreal with the Bruins and then left his team on their four-game road trip after Saturday’s game, the Pacioretty hit already a thing of the past, while Thornton was left behind to await his hearing with the league. Orpik had returned to the TD Garden from Mass General before the Penguins night at the office had finished and returned to Pittsburgh with Neal and the rest of the team, thankfully having seemed to escape any serious harm. The best possible end from such a frightful moment.

Both teams wear Black-and-Gold and both will defend their guys in the sure to be lengthy debate that ensues over who did right and who did wrong? The only thing that is certain is it was too much of the ugly side of hockey for one team for one week.

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/12/08/say-it-ain%e2%80%99t-so-st22/feed/0The Chiarelli Era Forges Onhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/09/01/the-chiarelli-era/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/09/01/the-chiarelli-era/#commentsSun, 01 Sep 2013 21:24:52 +0000Matt Prestonhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=101044BREAKING NEWS: Boston Bruins ink general manager Peter Chiarelli to a four-year extension. All right, so it is not quite breaking news. A lot has happened, actually, with the Boston Bruins since our last edition. With training camp starting up in a little over a week, we will be getting to that. While we wait, [...]]]>

All right, so it is not quite breaking news. A lot has happened, actually, with the Boston Bruins since our last edition. With training camp starting up in a little over a week, we will be getting to that. While we wait, time to wax intellectual about the most recent happenings for the Black-and-Gold.

On Thursday, it was announced the Bruins and Chiarelli had settled on a deal that will keep the GM in the Hub through the 2017-2018 season, further extending a reign that dates back to the summer of 2006. By and large, the Bruins faithful rejoiced at the signing, heralding Chiarelli as the man who has led the resurgence of the Bruins over his seven seasons at the helm.

And why would they not? How many general managers have had more success since Chiarelli’s first season in 2006-2007?

Therein lies the beauty of the Chiarelli Era and his extension. It has all been so delightfully – well – Chiarelli.

Like all of the contract extensions he seems to hand out, you love the idea of it and the deal comes off as brilliant. The more you think about it, however, the more questions you have. When you break it down, how good has Chiarelli really been?

CONTRACT EXTENSIONS

Since that is what got us to this point in the first place, we will start there. Where the GM gets high marks in this regard is that, until this spring, he has yet to allow a major piece of the Bruins’ core get to the unrestricted free agent market without being extended. Patrice Bergeron and Tuukka Rask, both of whom signed lucrative deals this summer, are just the most recent names. Zdeno Chara, Milan Lucic, Andrew Ference, David Krejci (twice), the now jettisoned Tyler Seguin, Brad Marchand (twice), even Marc Savard and Tim Thomas, all received extensions from Chiarelli.

Where Chiarelli draws ire is, because of his penchant for locking up players before their time comes, some of the deals make one wonder if he is signing his players for above market value? Maybe not grossly above market value, but just enough to wonder who is getting the better end of the deal, player or team?

It is an issue that came into greater focus this offseason as the salary cap ceiling came down following last winter’s lockout and the Bruins were forced to let go of players like Nathan Horton, Andrew Ference and Rich Peverley because of their cap numbers. Players like Chris Kelly (avg. $3 million per season), Lucic ($6 mil per), Krejci ($5.25 mil per), even Bergeron and Rask ($7 mil each) are all probably making somewhere between a quarter to three-quarters of a million more than they should be.

By and large, all of Chiarelli’s extensions look great on the surface, even if they are slightly overvalued. When you add up the cap room the Bruins might have, though, and play they ‘what if…’ game makes you wonder.

Final Grade: B+

DRAFTING

Somewhat of a controversial issue when it comes to evaluating Chiarelli. Signed in May, some view Chiarelli as the general manager of record at the 2006 draft, the one that proved pivotal in the Bruins recent success as Phil Kessel, Lucic and Marchand were all taken that year. Chiarelli, however, did not fully take over control until July, well after the draft, so there is often debate as to how much credit he can be given for those successes.

That 2006 draft notwithstanding, however, the Bruins at the draft have since been just awful. Of his first three first round picks – Zach Hamill (2007, 8th overall), Joe Colborne (2008, 16th overall), Jordan Caron (2009, 25th overall) – only one is still with the organization and has shown flashes of being a bottom six forward at best. His next two – Tyler Seguin (2010, second overall), Dougie Hamilton (2011, ninth overall) – were both top picks and show great potential to be studs at the NHL level, but not only was Seguin shipped out of town after just three seasons, the picks used to take those players were acquired via trade, leading one to wonder how good the Bruins choices would have been those seasons if they had not been gifted such high picks?

Maybe it is too early to judge Chiarelli too harshly on the more recent drafts, particularly in the later rounds, but the fact remains Seguin was the only Chiarelli draft pick who took the ice in Game 6 of this year’s Stanley Cup Final against the Chicago Blackhawk. That, along with the fact the Bruins recently fired their director of amateur scouting is not a sign they have been very good.

Final Grade: C-

TRADE ACQUISITIONS

To complete the compliment sandwich of Chiarelli’s reign, his ability to trade has been downright brilliant.

Maybe not perfect (SEE: Kris Versteeg for Brandon Bochenski), but Chiarelli hits far more than he misses. With the deal that sent Andrew Raycroft to Toronto for Rask taking place in that in between time in 2006, it all starts with the Phil Kessel trade and works backwards from there.

Kessel for picks the picks that became Seguin, Hamilton and prospect Jared Knight.

Dennis Wideman and a pair of picks to Florida for Horton and Gregory Campbell.

Byron Bitz, Craig Weller (neither of whom played in the league last year) and a 2010 second round pick for Dennis Seidenberg and Matt Bartkowski.

Another second round pick for Kelly.

Matt Lashoff and Martins Karsums to Tampa for Mark Recchi and a pick.

Matt Hendricks for Johnny Boychuk.

Even the Tomas Kaberle deal, considered one of his flops, can not have been all that bad really, considering the Bruins still won the Stanley Cup that year.

Like his recent drafts, time will tell on Chiarelli’s most recent deal, which sent Seguin, forward Rich Peverley and prospect Ryan Button to Dallas in exchange for Loui Eriksson and three prospects, but the Bruins GM has been like a juiced up power hitter when it comes to navigating the trade market.

Final Grade: A

OVERALL

As I have tried to get this written over the past three days, like a bipolar binge, I could not decide if I wanted this to be a piece slamming Chiarelli’s mistakes and his smug, “I’m the smartest man in the room” demeanor or praising some absolute brilliance, wishing to spend just one day learning from the man.

In the end, however, it is hard to argue with results.

The Bruins have qualified for the playoffs every year with the exception of his first. Posted a 291-187-62 record, won three division titles, the franchise’s first Stanley Cup in nearly four decades and came within 61:30 of winning a second. Since 2009, the Bruins have been perennially amongst the top teams in the NHL and that is most likely a trend that is not going to end this coming season.

And, if nothing else, Chiarelli should be the pundit-fan hybrid’s dream, providing plenty of fodder with all the decisions he makes, but then providing wins to rejoice over.

He may not have drafted, signed or acquired many of the key cogs to the Bruins success, but he has shaped a team and a program that has revitalized professional hockey in Boston. The greatest general manager of all time as he has been touted in some circles this week? Maybe not, but still can probably be said the Bruins lucked out when Ray Shero opted to go to Pittsburgh, paving the way for Chiarelli in Boston.

Final Grade: B+

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/09/01/the-chiarelli-era/feed/0Unraveling at the Seemshttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/07/05/unraveling-at-the-seems/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/07/05/unraveling-at-the-seems/#commentsFri, 05 Jul 2013 16:13:03 +0000Matt Prestonhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=100303Aeschylus could not have written a better ending. Ultimately, with the dust having settled on the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, maybe it is true the Boston Bruins had no business beating the Chicago Blackhawks based on the respective bodies of work throughout the season. The Bruins, however, did just enough throughout the course of their [...]]]>

Aeschylus could not have written a better ending.

Ultimately, with the dust having settled on the 2013 Stanley Cup Final, maybe it is true the Boston Bruins had no business beating the Chicago Blackhawks based on the respective bodies of work throughout the season. The Bruins, however, did just enough throughout the course of their playoff run to get the collective hopes up of the Black-and-Gold faithful and then got a 2-1 lead in the series. Yet, as the series progressed, Chicago aged like a fine whine, while Boston skunked like a beer and it all came crashing down in just 17 seconds.

A good old fashioned Bruins heartbreak.

And like any good Greek tragedy, with the off-season set to begin with the opening of free agency this afternoon, just when you think the pain is over, the story comes with the sweet twist of irony at the end. Hurtful for Bruins fans, but justice for hockey fans as Jeremy Jacobs is getting his just due yet again and the Bruins championship contender is being blown up.

Before the 2004 lockout, Bruins ownership prepared for the forecasted low salary cap by having as few big money contracts as possible. This left them decimated when the cap number was not as low as projected, bringing about a period more credible writers have referred to as the Dark Ages and a four-year rebuilding project.

This time around, the Bruins loaded up before this season’s lockout – a lockout Jacobs drove – signing core players to big money deals throughout the year before last winter’s lockout, some coming in the days just before. Unlike 2004, this newest collective bargaining agreement game with a cap reduction for next season, meaning one of the league’s best teams that has been build with precision and has been to two Stanley Cup Finals over the past three seasons is in the process of being dismantled.

Unlike the past few off-seasons when all Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli had to do was find a few role player to bring in for the backend of the lineup and work on contract extensions with his core players, he will have a lot to do between now and October, and he is not off to a great start.

Mere days after their Game 6 loss to the Blackhawks, the team said goodbye to impending unrestricted free agent Andrew Ference, the first cap casualty. As bitter of a pill as it may be to swallow, given his importance to the franchise the past seven season, but having known all season the cap would be reduced, his age, his struggles throughout the season and the late season emergences of Matt Bartkowski and Torey Krug, it is a move that should not come as much of a surprise.

Onto itself, not the kind of move that should derail a franchise. Unfortunately, Ference was merely the tip of the iceberg.

The same day as Ference, Jaromir Jagr was also informed by the team he would not be re-signed. Again, not a huge surprise. It was not until last Friday when things started getting fun as Nathan Horton told the Bruins he would be taking full advantage of his unrestricted free agency and would not be re-signing in Boston.

To cap off their run to free agency, the Bruins came up with the biggest fireworks of all on the Fourth of July, trading franchise building block Tyler Seguin, along with Rich Peverley and prospect Ryan Button, to the Dallas Stars for Loui Eriksson and prospects. A move that Chiarelli has since come out and said was a means of dumping salary.

Not only did Jacobs’ lockout cost his loyal customers half the season, but now it has claimed the Bruins’ clubhouse leader, top four right wings and his team’s offensive future.

Initially, the Bruins stood about $8 million under the projected $63.4 million cap for 2013-2014. The popular rumors see the majority of that money going to restricted free agent, goaltender Tuukka Rask as early as today, and – depending on the final numbers – deservedly so. The Bruins are also said to be working on a lengthy, and pricey, contract extension for Patrice Bergeron. Also well deserved, but with one year left on his current deal, that is really more of an issue for next year’s cap mess. Re-signing Bergeron is important, but Chiarelli has nearly a full offense to reconstruct for next season.

Why Chiarelli decided it was a better idea to dump the 21-year old Seguin’s $5.75 million a year deal instead of the severely overblown $6 million a year price tag of the 25-year old Milan Lucic, who comes with far more questions about wasted potential than Seguin? That is a question for another post. For now, the GM needs to find some comfort in the $9 million in cap relief he received by moving Peverley and Seguin, and begin wondering how he will effectively use that money.

Seguin should have been the plug-in along side Lucic and David Krejci, but Chiarelli is now going to have to search for a bargain top six winger. Vincent Lecavalier or Daniel Alfredsson would have been the perfect, short-term answers for replacing Horton, but Lecavalier signed earlier this week with Philadelphia and it looks as though Alfredsson is going to choose Detroit over Boston. Not on par with those two, but Danny Briere would have also been a decent top six addition to the Bruins, but he has signed with Montreal.

What’s left?

David Clarkson will garner too much money as will Jarome Iginla. Michael Ryder has already proven he is not a top six forward playing for the Bruins. Is it possible Peter Mueller is really the best option? Could Jagr be lured back to Boston for one more year?

Eriksson will likely take Seguin’s spot alongside and Bergeron and Brad Marchand, while Carl Soderberg and prospect/low-level veteran pick up to be named later will join Chris Kelly on the third unit. A veteran defensive pick-up, possibly in the form of Wade Redden, should also be expected just in case the young defensemen struggle throughout the season. That top line spot is the key to the offseason for Chiarelli. It might even be argued, with their cap issues and his restricted status, filling their top line right wing spot becomes an even more important focus for Chiarelli than the Rask deal.

Chiarelli has had a fairly easy time assembling teams in Boston thus far in his tenure. This summer, however, it will be determined who the real brains behind the Black-and-Gold’s recent success are.

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/07/05/unraveling-at-the-seems/feed/0Questions Aboundhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/06/15/questions-abound/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/06/15/questions-abound/#commentsSat, 15 Jun 2013 15:27:57 +0000Matt Prestonhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=99970Once? That could be just a fluke. Twice? Who cares? They still won. Three times? Yeah, on the third time it is becoming a trend. Call me a cynic if you would like, I cannot necessarily deny that fact, but following the Boston Bruins’ 4-3 triple overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 1 [...]]]>

Once?

That could be just a fluke.

Twice?

Who cares? They still won.

Three times?

Yeah, on the third time it is becoming a trend.

Call me a cynic if you would like, I cannot necessarily deny that fact, but following the Boston Bruins’ 4-3 triple overtime loss to the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final earlier this week, that makes three games in a row the Bruins have gone back to their pace of play from their lackadaisical regular season and been outplayed by their opponents.

With the puck dropping on Game 2 in just a few hours, the question becomes just how much concern should there be in regards to the Boston Bruins?

It is, after all, just one game. And for as bad as the Bruins looked at times during Game 1, it still took nearly two games for the Blackhawks to get one win. Not to mention the fact the game-tying and game-winning goals needed to take strange bounces in order to get behind netminder Tuukka Rask.

There is not much shame in losing a triple overtime game on such a goal. The shame comes in the question of whether or not it should have even gotten to that point?

Though they were not the better team in regulation, twice the Bruins had two-goal advantages and squandered them both, one coming in the third period. Then, when they were finally playing like the better team during the overtime periods, they could not take advantage of any of their opportunities to take a series lead.

It is not just the time of year for those kinds of lapses.

This is not 2011 and these are not the Vancouver Canucks. Logic would dictate the Bruins needed a split in the first two games in Chicago to have a good shot at the Cup. They threw that away when they let Game 1 slip through their fingers. The Bruins, however, are a strong enough team mentally that this loss should not rattle them. The potential of a rebound and a split of the games in Chicago still exists, but their play was going south before Andrew Shaw’s seeing-eye tally in the wee-hours of Thursday morning.

The question of whether or not it is time for the Black-and-Gold faithful to grow concerned and begin to panic with the Bruins trailing in a series for the first time this postseason is more of a personal choice. The bigger question heading into Game 2 is what 18 skaters will be pulling on sweaters for the game this evening?

Has the clock finally run out on Krug, the Cinderella of the Bruins’ postseason ball, who was finally exposed as the rookie defenseman that he is in Game 1?

(Maybe, but give him one more game.)

Will Nathan Horton play despite the supposed shoulder injury that has been nagging him all postseason and was finally made public when aggravated late in Game 1?

(I say probably.)

If he cannot go, who will take his place on the Bruins top line with David Krejci and Milan Lucic?

Will head coach Claude Julien be able to roll his four lines given a potential absence of Horton and a rusty set of legs in the lineup?

(I see him actually tightening the reigns.)

Maybe it is not time to get concerned and worry just yet, but the Bruins have left the pundits with plenty of questions early in the Cup Final and it is certainly time for the trends to start going in the upward direction.

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/06/15/questions-abound/feed/0One More Tryhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/06/12/one-more-try/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/06/12/one-more-try/#commentsWed, 12 Jun 2013 19:14:27 +0000Matt Prestonhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=99935Can’t beat the Penguins in a 1-0 game, I said. Can’t keep Crosby and Malkin off the score sheet, I said. Lose in six, I said. In all fairness to myself, I did say the Bruins would win Game 3 of the series and that if they wanted to beat the Penguins, they were going [...]]]>

Can’t beat the Penguins in a 1-0 game, I said.

Can’t keep Crosby and Malkin off the score sheet, I said.

Lose in six, I said.

In all fairness to myself, I did say the Bruins would win Game 3 of the series and that if they wanted to beat the Penguins, they were going to have to go on the offensive and bring the attack to their opponent, which they did in Games 1 and 2.

I am also inclined to think there are not many out there who both called the Boston Bruins sweep of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference Finals and then believed it to be true. The good news is the Bruins decimating the Penguins, snuffing out the odds on favorite to win the East, if not the Stanley Cup, gives us all a chance to atone with one more series to predict.

The most important series of all.

The legend grows for the 2013 Boston Bruins. The team has now gone from being an utter disappointment, mere minutes from a horrible first round playoff loss and possible franchise upheaval, to inflicting just that on one of the best team’s in hockey en route to a bid at their second Stanley Cup in three years. A bid that, in order to be successful, they will need to take down the Chicago Blackhawks, the team that rivaled the Penguins for the “best team in hockey” title this season.

When the teams take the ice at Chicago’s United Center for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final on Wednesday, the Blackhawks should prove a similar threat to the Bruins as the Penguins, particularly in terms of style of play. Chicago is a slightly less talented team overall than Pittsburgh, but for whatever offensive deficiencies the Blackhawks may lack when compared to the Penguins, they make up for in terms of the defense and overall toughness the Pens lacked. Collectively, they are a better unit.

The only thing most likely holding back Chicago from being the clear-cut “best team in hockey” this season is East Coast biased. They won the Presidents Trophy as the team with the best record in the regular season, playing the first half of the lockout shortened season without a loss in regulation. They had the second highest scoring offense and top defense throughout the regular season, while ranking sixth and third – respectively – in those categories during the playoffs.

While Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews may not be Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin – two of the top three to five players in the world – they are both top 10 to 15 players in the NHL. Corey Crawford may not have the overall career stats of Tomas Vokoun, but he is certainly playing better right now, leading the playoffs with a 1.74 goals against average. Bryan Bickell has been a man possessed, while Niklas Hjalmarsson has been one of the steadiest defensemen throughout the playoffs.

Regardless of how the “Who’s better: the Penguins or the Blackhawks?” debate plays, thanks to the similarities between the two, the Bruins should not have to do much in order to augment their game plan from the Conference Finals.

Does that mean the world should feel better about the Bruins heading into this series than the last, given Chicago’s likeness to Pittsburgh and the Bruins dominance in the Conference Final? Though Chicago has rolled throughout much of the playoffs, they have yet to see an opponent up to the level of the Penguins, or even the Bruins for that matter, so does that make them less dangerous?

The answers being “How could you not?” and “Not at all”, respectively.

A title will be in play for the Bruins if they can play up to the level they have been the last two weeks. Given Chicago’s nature as a puck-possession team, the intent should be to go with the more up-tempo, aggressive attack they Bruins displayed in Games 1 and 2 against Pittsburgh. Maybe defense is the Bruins strength, but the more aggressive they are, the more it will take the Blackhawks out of their comfort zone, as well. The less chances the Bruins give up, will also mean that the series does not lie squarely on the shoulders of goaltender Tuukka Rask, who came heavily under fire towards the end of the conference final.

Boston did go back to their typical, pack-it-in defensive style in Games 3 and 4 and came away with wins, thanks in large part to the play of goaltender Tuukka Rask, even if Pittsburgh outplayed them in those games. As admirable as the young Finn has played throughout the playoffs, one has to wonder if the Bruins can rely solely on him to win four of the next seven games?

The norm for Stanley Cup games is they are always tight, but how many low-scoring games can the Bruins really be expected to play in a row?

Bruins boss Claude Julien’s tendency to stick to his game plan, his players and ride it out to the end, good or bad, can be both a blessing and a curse for the coach. It did help them get by Pittsburgh, but will it come back to bite them against a team that is mentally tougher?

The only safe call to make at this point is, unlike their last two series, the Bruins should be preparing themselves for a six to seven game battle before it is all said and done. A battle in which they will have to play as they did in Games 1 and 2 against the Penguins, keep defensive lapses to a minimum, a pace they will have to keep up though the duration of the series. If they do that then…

Like I was really going to be brash enough to tempt the Fates and come up with another prediction.

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/06/12/one-more-try/feed/0Time to Prove Iggy Wronghttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/05/31/time-to-prove-iggy-wrong/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/05/31/time-to-prove-iggy-wrong/#commentsFri, 31 May 2013 22:14:30 +0000Matt Prestonhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=99854To the Bruins fans who were lulled to sleep by the uninspired play of the New York Rangers during their Eastern Conference Semifinals series with the Boston Bruins: No, you are not dreaming, even if this is the match-up you have been dreaming of since the end of March. By virtue of their 3-1 win [...]]]>

By virtue of their 3-1 win in Game 5 of the conference semi’s last Saturday night, the Bruins earned themselves a return trip to the Eastern Conference Final for the second time in the last three seasons, set to begin tomorrow night in Pittsburgh against the Penguins. The Bruins will also have the chance to prove Jarome Iginla made the wrong decision at the Trade Deadline, when the future Hall-of-Famer chose to spurn the Bruins and go to the Penguins in search of the first championship of his career.

They say time heals all wounds, so maybe it is likely the Iginla trade is nothing but a distant memory to the players in the Bruins locker room, if they ever even cared about it at all, but it is a story line nonetheless as they will have to prove Iginla wrong in order to get back to the Stanley Cup Final.

And in the process they will also help in deciding an age-old debate in sports: Is it about the more talented players or the right players?

There is no doubt the Penguins are the more talented team in the series. If games were played on paper, the Bruins would not stand a chance of making it past Game 5, but talent does not always win. For all their lack of talent when compared to their opponent, however, the Bruins are still at very good and well-balanced team that always plays within a smart system. Can they prove to be the better team over the next seven games? Or will the Penguins prove they themselves are a team and more than just a collection of stars?

Bruins versus Penguins.

Team versus Talent.

The Black-and-Gold faithful around New England should not be able to help themselves in thinking this matchup has the feel of an old school, Patriots versus Colts rivalry game from about 10 years ago. On one side there’s the star-studded offense, well known to the headlines, up against the rag-tag bunch with a staunch defensive game plan and an offense that is more timely and opportunistic than good.

And much like how the Patriots always had the Colts number back in those days, it is not outlandish to say the Bruins have a chance to upset the Penguins or even to pick them to win this series.

The Patriots, however, were never going to beat the Colts in a track meet in those days and the Bruins are not going to beat the Penguins in that manner in this series. Even if the B’s have the league’s second best offense in the playoffs, Pittsburgh’s league leading offense is more than a goal better at 4.27 to 3.17 goals per game.

One has to think, no matter how good the Bruins defense can be, Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and the rest of the Penguins offense are going to score. There is probably no way around that. The focus for head coach Claude Julien and the rest of the Bruins should not be on packing it in and doing everything they can to keep Pittsburgh off the board, but rather just limiting their opportunities so that the Penguins are only scoring in the 3-4 goal range as opposed to the 5-6 goal range they are very capable of being in.

It is projecting that Chara will be matched up against the bigger, more physical Malkin and his wingers, Iginla and James Neal, while Patrice Bergeron will have to be responsible for neutralizing the trio of Crosby, Chris Kunitz and Pascal Dupuis as much as possible. Chara and Bergeron are two of the best at what they do when it comes to their defensive prowess, which is also the strength of the Bruins as a team. They may need to be at there best to do so, but they should stand a far better chance of slowing down the Pittsburgh attack than the New York Islanders or Ottawa Senators.

The Bruins, however, cannot try and make the next seven games into the typical Claude Julien, “win the game 1-0” style of hockey. The Bruins are going to need to score as much as they are going to need to prevent their opponent from doing so. Yes, one way to stop the Penguins from scoring is to pack in the defensive zone and play defense only, but might a better way be to win the possession battle and keep the puck away from the Penguins?

On top of limiting the Penguins opportunities, the Bruins will need to walk that fine line of somehow bringing a more physically dominating presence to rattle Pittsburgh, much like the Philadelphia Flyers did last year when they bounced the Penguins in the first round, but to not let that physical style get the better of them.

For much of the regular season, the Bruins penalty kill was leaps and bounds ahead of any other team in the NHL. After a 7-for-7 performance against the Devils in mid-April, however, the Bruins PK took a nosedive over the last two weeks of the regular season from which they have yet to recover.

The unit is currently operating at 81.1% – more than 10% lower than when at their peak this season – yielding nearly a power play about every other game (seven goals against in 12 games). Conversely, the Penguins power play is converting at a league best 28.3% in the playoffs (13 goals scored in 11 games). The Bruins will need to stay out of the penalty box, but can they still manage to bring the physical presence needed to rattle the Penguins while doing so?

If the Bruins can at least slow down and limit the Penguins attack, if they can be physical and stay out of the box and if Tuukka Rask can play like the goaltender who, early in the Rangers series, had numbers eerily similar to those of Tim Thomas when he won the Conn Smythe as opposed to the goaltender who has a career record of 3-8 when his team has a chance to close out a series, the Bruins have a team that has a chance to stand up to the super-squad that is the Pittsburgh Penguins.

If they fail to come through in any of those areas, they will have to settle for being thankful the weather has turned in Boston this week because it will be time for their summer break.

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/05/31/time-to-prove-iggy-wrong/feed/0On to Step Twohttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/05/16/on-to-step-two/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/05/16/on-to-step-two/#commentsThu, 16 May 2013 20:20:18 +0000Matt Prestonhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=99666There are just some moments in life that take a little while to process. Three days to be exact. That is how many amongst the Black-and-Gold faithful felt following the Boston Bruins 5-4, overtime win in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night. The Bruins were [...]]]>

There are just some moments in life that take a little while to process. Three days to be exact.

That is how many amongst the Black-and-Gold faithful felt following the Boston Bruins 5-4, overtime win in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night.

The Bruins were dragging all night, but the score was close. Phil Kessel and Nazem Kadri then score within the first 5:30 of the third to run the score to 4-1. It was done.

Over.

The Bruins had blown yet another 3-1, 3-0 series lead for the third time in five years. This space was already three-quarters of the way full with an argument about how head coach Claude Julien was going to take the fall and get fired because of the loss, but how blame should lie with general manager Peter Chiarelli. It was the kind of night that just leaves an ugly knot in your stomach for the next week.

The Bruins were flat and the Maple Leafs were dominant in all phases. Show me a person who was still confident in the Bruins midway through the third period of Game 7 and I will show you a liar. How could it be anything but over?

And then…

10:41 remaining in the third, Nathan Horton from Milan Lucic and David Krejci. 4-2, Toronto.

0:14 remaining. James Reimer gives up another ridiculous rebound leaving a wide-open bid for an uncontested Rich Peverley, who does not put it away.

That’s the game. A golden opportunity to put away a Game 7 you had no business winning and you fail to ice it and give Toronto time to catch their breath? What was the third line doing out on the ice anyway?!

I was rendered speechless for the next couple of minutes, unsure of how to process what I just witnessed. Three days later and I am still not entirely sure.

Maybe they were spurned, hearing the crowds in the streets of Toronto playing the Standells “Dirty Water.” Maybe they were playing the most elaborate game of rope-a-dope there ever was. Maybe they were finally scared they might lose their job if they went down like dogs again.

Whatever it was, the Bruins found the clichéd “extra gear” and the killer instinct that once defined them, but had eluded them the past two seasons, and came through when it mattered.

They might not have deserved it, but the Bruins won it. While Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask may have out battled his Toronto counterpart in Reimer, outside of Game 1, the Maple Leafs as a whole outplayed the Bruins throughout the series. A team that once ran scared from the Black-and-Gold was not the least bit intimidated and looked to be in complete control until those final minutes of the series. Toronto deserves their due credit, but it is Boston moving on.

By no means are the Bruins the unstoppable juggernaut thought to be at the beginning of the season. By and large, with the exception of the Krejci-Horton-Lucic line, who seem to have found life after being a complete disappointment throughout the regular season, and Rask, the Bruins may have gotten the breaks they needed, but are they really playing well enough to go deep in these playoffs?

Sometimes, however, all you need is a fresh start. The Bruins will get that tonight as they play Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals series against the New York Rangers. If they play how they played through the breadth of the Toronto series, Monday night’s theatrics become nothing but a tease. If they can carry the momentum gained from the comeback to start the series anew, there is a good chance they knock another four wins off the 16 needed in the postseason.

Despite some historical numbers – like how they have never scored more than two goals against the Rangers Henrik Lundqvist in the 30 times they have faced the Swede – the matchup should be seen as a favorable one for the Bruins. Both teams play a very similar style. Both teams offensive output seemingly comes from just one spot. Both teams feel the best way to win a hockey game is 1-0.

Lundqvist does present a daunting task. Goals are going to be at a premium, especially a team as offensively challenged as the Bruins can be at times. Yes, Lucic and Horton have found their stride after a two-year hiatus and Krejci is once again ruling the playoffs, but the second unit of Bergeron-Marchand-Seguin was a non-factor against Toronto. The trio combined for three goals in the series, all of which were scored by Bergeron and only one was scored then they were playing together as a three-man unit. That kind of production will sink the Bruins in Round Two and Peverley will not be able to miss out on golden opportunities like the one he had in the closing seconds of Game 7.

All three lines are going to need to contribute and cash in on the limited number of chances Lundqvist and the Rangers give them. The bigger issue at the moment, however, for the Bruins is not how are they going to put pucks in the net, but rather how are they going to keep pucks out?

With all three suffering from the elusive “undisclosed body injury,” the Bruins are currently without the services of Dennis Seidenberg, who went down in the first minute of Game 7, Andrew Ference, who has been out since Game 5, and Wade Redden, and the team has been mum on any sort of time table for their return. Their absence has forced three rookies in Dougie Hamilton, who spent much of the last month of the regular season watching from the stands, Matt Bartkowski and Torey Krug, both of whom spent the majority of the year playing in the American Hockey League, into action. Their presence is going to put a lot of pressure on an already fatigued Chara, Johnny Boychuk and Adam McQuaid.

Rask has played well. The Rangers are also not prone to taking many shots, ranking 13 out of the 16 playoff teams in that category, and are also struggling to get production from some of their top end players, with just one goal between Rick Nash and Brad Richards in their opening series. The prospects of three rookie defensemen, however, trying to withstand what could be a physically punishing attack from the Rangers, puts a lot of onus on Rask, Chara, Boychuk and McQuaid – depending on how long the others are out of the lineup – and does not leave the Bruins defense a lot of room for mistakes.

The Bruins have proven this week all 60 minutes of game play count and a game’s fate is not decided until they have done so. The lack of consistency in their effort and level of play, however, makes it hard to accurately judge this team. The decision of how the Bruins will fair in this series comes down to the simple questions of can they be consistent in the way they play and are they going to play the way they did in Game 1 and the final minutes of Game 7?

The faithful will show up in droves to support their team this evening at the TD Bank Garden. Will the Bruins?

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/05/16/on-to-step-two/feed/0That’s Step Onehttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/05/04/that%e2%80%99s-step-one/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/05/04/that%e2%80%99s-step-one/#commentsSat, 04 May 2013 17:07:21 +0000Matt Prestonhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=99538May 1, 2013. 6:31pm. “@TheOnlyPresto: Real simple pre-game analysis for the B’s/Leafs: If the Bruins can’t drop the hammer tonight, abandon all postseason dreams.” And put the hammer down the Boston Bruins did in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, heeding one scribe’s advice in an authoritative, 4-1 [...]]]>

May 1, 2013. 6:31pm.

“@TheOnlyPresto: Real simple pre-game analysis for the B’s/Leafs: If the Bruins can’t drop the hammer tonight, abandon all postseason dreams.”

And put the hammer down the Boston Bruins did in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series against the Toronto Maple Leafs, heeding one scribe’s advice in an authoritative, 4-1 victory on Wednesday night.

Not that I am one to blow his own horn, but as a team that is beloved for its history of guts and guile, the Bruins had shown little to none of that through the regular season, and that just cannot happen if this team wants to have any kind of true postseason success.

The Bruins, on some levels, did have a strong regular season, finishing with the third best record in the Eastern Conference, just one point behind Montreal in the Northeast Division. Yet, third period collapse after third period collapse, what was once amongst the toughest, meanest teams in hockey began to look soft and whiney. Numerous times throughout the closing months of the regular season, the Bruins had games where a win would have given them the division or helped extend that lead. Every time they came up short.

The earmark of the Bruins from 2010-2012 was they never lost a two-goal or third period lead. The 2013 installment never seemed to be able to hold on to one. Their killer instinct was gone. And rather than bare down and grind out a win, the team seemed more content to just give excuses as to why they were not finishing games.

They were tired.

They were fatigued.

It was the condensed scheduled.

Now, however, it is playoff time and that nonsense just will not do. All 16 teams fortunate enough to make it to the postseason are tired, fatigued, banged up and have all played the same 48-game condensed schedule. Quite simply, if the Bruins do not play with that edge that made them famous, if Milan Lucic cannot be the ferocious beast that earned him that $6-million a year contract, but is going to be the wet-blanket who only scored just seven goals this season, if Nathan Horton cannot be the scorer he was in 2011’s playoff run, if the defense as is going to continue to lapse and be porous later in games, this team could be headed for another embarrassing, first-round exit. Never mind making a serious run at the Stanley Cup.

Fires will be lit in Boston. There is no doubt about that. The question is whether it will be one lit within the Boston Bruins or the collective torches of the team’s fan base. If the Bruins do not manage to make some sort of effort in this year’s playoffs and the team does not make it out of the first round, heads will be called for to roll.

The good news is the Bruins have taken that first step. They did come out and lay the hammer down on the Maple Leafs in Game 1. How long, however, will the inconsistent Bruins be able to carry that momentum? Boston could barely string together two strong weeks of hockey during the regular season, let alone the two months they will need to put together in order to get to the Conference or the Cup finals.

Boston does have a favorable match up against the Maple Leafs, a team they have dominated against in recent seasons, with just one loss to their division rival in the past two seasons. Game 2 this evening may be something of a different story, as both teams will make roster changes prior to the game. On Boston’s side, Rich Peverley looks to come down from the ninth floor to replace Kaspars Daugavins on the third line, while either Dougie Hamilton or Matt Bartkowski will get a turn in place of the suspended Andrew Ference. Toronto, on the other hand, who loaded up on grit and toughness to offset the Bruins in Game 1, may look to get a little more skill and flash on the ice to take advantage of Boston’s defensive changes.

As it has been with many teams in Boston’s recent history, the Bruins will only ever be able to go as far as their peak level performance can take them. At their best, the Bruins are amongst the best teams in hockey, able to stand up to the test of any opponent. Anything less than that, however, and most teams can laugh them off the ice. Easily handling the Leafs, as they should, could go a long way in helping Boston prepare for a solid, postseason run. We shall find out in the coming days if they can finally put the excuses away, man up and once again be the Big, Bad Bruins.

If not, it will be golf season in Boston.

]]>http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/05/04/that%e2%80%99s-step-one/feed/0Boston Stronghttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/04/18/boston-strong/
http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2013/04/18/boston-strong/#commentsThu, 18 Apr 2013 18:34:56 +0000Matt Prestonhttp://www.prosportsblogging.com/?p=99133As the Boston Bruins faced off against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night at the TD Garden, the result, more than any other amongst the countless games the Bruins have played in their nine decades, could not have mattered less. The chance to clinch a playoff berth on the line and it just did not [...]]]>

As the Boston Bruins faced off against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night at the TD Garden, the result, more than any other amongst the countless games the Bruins have played in their nine decades, could not have mattered less. The chance to clinch a playoff berth on the line and it just did not mattered. The game was played. The highlight was when Rene Rancourt took to the ice to sing the National Anthem, and he did not even sing the whole things.

For days I have been looking for the right words. I was not in Boston on Monday. I was not even in the state. Though I had friends at the marathon and in the city, some close to the Copley Square area, none were close enough to have to be apart of the tragic scene. I am nothing but a guy who wonders whether or not he would have the courage to stand in and fight, helping the victims after such an event as countless folks did on Monday.

Generally my stance when these types of atrocious acts occur, much like after 9/11 or the shootings in Newtown, CT, late last year, given how little direct contact I had with the marathon bombing, how no one close to me was directly affected, I feel guilty getting too emotional. I like to believe that is for the people whose lives were forever changed by these events, not guys like me who just have to try and process what happened.

This one, however? This one hit me.

Maybe it is because I consider Boston home. I am not a Bostonian by birth, but it has always been a place that is special to me. Maybe it is because it took place during a sporting event. I just do not know, but I was rattled.

The lead up to Wednesday night’s Bruins game, however, helped me shake off the shock and finally process what has been going on around us.

I do not like the idea of using this space as some sort of pulpit. The life of a sports writer is meant to be trivial. A life spent pontificating on and romanticizing the actions of men who are, for the most part, behaving like children. I write sports to get away from the real world.

Yet, while their outcomes may have no greater bearing on the world, sports and the games themselves are not without their significant importance to this world.

In order for something to be a sport, it needs to have two different groups competing for a win. By their very definition, sports divide us. In essence, however, what sports really do are unite us. All of us. And if you do not believe me, just go back and check out the tributes in Montreal or at Yankee Stadium, the “hated, mortal enemies” of the Boston sports fans.

The Bruins were the perfect escape and the perfect place for the city to come together and begin to heal. They are a team that has long since been built to reflect the very essence of a city. The team’s “Big, Bad Bruins” identity is one of a team that might not be the most talented team, the most graceful, but one that is gruff, fearless, relentless. A team that will not back down from a fight and a team that is going to band together in the face of adversity, particularly against anyone who tries to pick a fight with one of their own.

The city of Boston has a spirit about it you should want to embody. Tough. Bitter. Where things are rarely good enough and the winters are not for the faint of heart. A city with a chip on its shoulder. A little man/little brother complex. Not without its arrogance from time to time, but underneath a subtle, yet brilliant and beautiful humility and harmony.

If it is not through the Bruins, the city is best depicted by some rowdy drunk in a bar named Sully, who ends up getting punched in the face for his obnoxious behavior. Once knocked on his ass, his buddy Fitzy will pick him up, dust him off and ask “That all you got?” before they go back to their beers.

Boston is a city whose greatness is embodied in guts and guile, something for which every American should be thankful. I am no history buff, but last time I remember someone slapping the city of Boston like this it sparked a war, those responsible were left embarrassed and one of the greatest countries humanity has ever seen was born.

Not that I am hoping for any kind of military conflict as a result of Monday’s attacks. Merely to use this as a point that if whomever is responsible thinks these acts will go unpunished and that Bostonians will not use this as some sort of point to better the community, they could not be more mistaken.

The only thing they are gong to prove is how tough Boston can be.

“I’ve never been to a more proud city. They call themselves Massholes for a reason,” said Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference, who has made the city his year round home since being traded to the Hub in 2007. “It’s tough. It’s brash. Probably thump our chest a lot. I think it’s endearing a little bit.

“There’s a really high bar here that’s set by not only the sports teams and what people demand of us, but also in life. People that are in the hospitals and people that are in the schools and in the universities here, that bar is set so high here and people are always pushing to do as much as they can and be as good as they can. They’re tough as nails and pretty stubborn people. I don’t think something like this is going to knock too many people back too far before they come together even more.”

Evil is a sad reality of this world. We will never know why it exists and while we as a society will continually work to stop it that will not stop it from happening. As I sit and reflect on the past few days, however, part of me thinks that if things like Monday’s atrocious acts have to occur, it could not have happened in a better city. Boston’s attitude and how the city already has and will continue to rally around the bombings will show how little power these evil acts have over the good in this world.

How the arrogant, cowardly actions of one or two villains called to arms 100’s, if not 1,000’s of heroes. There were the runners who completed their 26.2 miles and then ran a few more to the various hospitals around the city to donate blood. The military personal, participating in the marathon while fully outfitted for charity, who flipped the switch and sprung into action as soon as the blasts occurred, despite any fatigue they may have felt after traversing all those miles carrying all of their gear. Police, fire and rescue personal that responded to the scene, not to mention the runners and spectators who were not hit by shrapnel and did what they could to help those that were get to safety. Their actions are really what should make our reflection over the last few days breathtaking.

It was another disappointing third period collapse for the Burins, as they lost in a shootout, 3-2. Rene Rancourt and the five minutes just before puck drop made it all worthwhile. So did the stories of how Bruins players took some of the first responders who were celebrated at the TD Garden out drinking afterwards. I can only imagine how it will be when Jack Edwards gets to do his first broadcast at Friday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. And it will not be long before we can make the jokes about how things must be back to normal as the Bruins blow another lead.

Boston will take its punch and feel the sting. Boston will bleed, but Boston will not forget. Boston will not be broken.